By Victor Kanayo
All is now set for the crowning of a new Ballon d’Or winner for 2024 with the organisers introducing a change in protocol.
With the prestigoous event now scheduled for October 28, France Football intends to alter the way the winner is informed.
In previous years, the winner was interviewed by France Football before the event, allowing them to know in advance that they had won.
However, according to Mario Cortegana, a correspondent for The Athletic, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner will only find out when the envelope is opened live during the ceremony.
With just over two weeks to go, speculation is rife about who will take home football’s most coveted individual prize.
Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior is heavily tipped to win, with many considering him the frontrunner after his stellar performances last season, helping Los Blancos secure both LaLiga and Champions League titles.
He faces competition from top names like Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Manchester City’s Rodri.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have won the award multiple times, with the former having the upper hand.
